The Transvésubienne 2009 occured last sunday. Considered as the hardest race of the world, 85kms, startup in mountain, finishing at Nice promenade des Anglais after 4500m downhill, 3300m ascent, incredible rocky trails, the race of the braves
Maverick Durance and Duc32 the perfect weapon for such race !!!

La Garoutade is in february, near Perpignan Pyrenees Orientales. It's a great "randonnée" not a race. 65kms, 2300m ascent, maximum DH around 500m, not really difficult. It allows to prepare the Transvé very soon in the season, in a sunny place (when it's cold and cloudy in Paris). The ambiance is great, people in the south west of France are very friendly.
Transvé is another world: The three main DH, respectively 1200m, 1500m and 800m are very very difficult with all types of ground but mainly rocky. Be extremely carefully with the choice of the tyres. I made the good one with Schwalbe Racing Ralph Double Defense 2.25 for the rear and Specialized Eskar 2Bliss 2.3 for the front, both in NoTubes, low pressure.

2007 Maverick Matic

here my new maverick durance. was supposed to be my trailbike, but ended up racing it on its first days at the breckepic race after running into trouble with my regular race bike. with parts borrowed from my wife's bike ...

... and liked it that much that i kept using it for 2 more days even when my regular bike was fixed again.

Ladies and Gents, after a several month delay (on my part) I give you "Medusa"...

She's a Medium Durance, and I literally just finished building her up 5 minutes ago! Just off out now to go get all the settings dialled in etc... Pretty happy with how she's turned out, probably gonna swap the tyres out for something grippier before I take her offroad tomorrow though... Let me know what you think!

Rims are the "V brake" version of Mavics XM819 UST rim. Not all the common I don't think, certainly I've not seen that many. I got them cos on my previous bike I was going with the whole contrasting black/silver/black/silver look all over the bike, and it kind of worked. Still like the way the wheels look now and I prefer them to the Disc version I think.

Lots of nice Mav's here. Got two myself, and pics soon. Got a question for the crew here. I just went to a Thomson post from a Speedball. Regardless of why, has anyone here had an issue getting the saddle to the angle they want? I tend to run just a hair 'nose down' from flat and can't get the post to do that. Did I chose poorly? Any bits available from Thomson?

Lots of nice Mav's here. Got two myself, and pics soon. Got a question for the crew here. I just went to a Thomson post from a Speedball. Regardless of why, has anyone here had an issue getting the saddle to the angle they want? I tend to run just a hair 'nose down' from flat and can't get the post to do that. Did I chose poorly? Any bits available from Thomson?

I came across the rather cool bike (the other one!) while riding in the woods the other day. It was being used by a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_tapping">rubber tapper</a> to get to his estate. The bike looks as though it is an artefact from the British Empire, with its rod-activated brakes.

I lived in Central America in the mid 50's to '65. I saw so many bikes with those "brake rod systems" cable brakes were only on "Race Bikes" ie 10 speeds WoW! A real European Race Bike had not ONLY drop down bars......(Wait there's MORE) They had the very dangerous toe clips and toe straps that you had to wear "special shoes" that kept you tied to the bike!! They had these aluminum cool looking water bottles that hung on the front of the handlebars and had corks to keep the water inside.
I also remember numerous brands of "mo-peds" that had a crank arms and chain connected to the engine. You took off on the bike pedaling the pedals then poped the clutch and she started. and down the road you went.

I came across the rather cool bike (the other one!) while riding in the woods the other day. It was being used by a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_tapping">rubber tapper</a> to get to his estate. The bike looks as though it is an artefact from the British Empire, with its rod-activated brakes.

There was a distributor here a few years ago, but now there isn't. This was the demo bike they had from 2006. It was sold as a bargain basement thing in 2008 to someone
who used it for a year and traded it in for a new bike. It was gathering dust in the back store room of a shop where I found it and set it free (for a price so ridiculous I'm almost ashamed to say )

There was a distributor here a few years ago, but now there isn't. This was the demo bike they had from 2006. It was sold as a bargain basement thing in 2008 to someone
who used it for a year and traded it in for a new bike. It was gathering dust in the back store room of a shop where I found it and set it free (for a price so ridiculous I'm almost ashamed to say )

Jgray, if ever you search / need a Maverick suspension center, I'm not too far from Israel (France) .. and if ever you come in France with your ML8 contact me I'll share some wonderful trails in the south.

That's real nice of you Alp.
As it happens the chief mechanic of the biggest bike retailer in Israel is a Maverick suspension specialist (they were the said distributor) and also a very nice guy. He is located 25Km from my home which is a little closer than France, and probably much closer than for 99% of the US crowd here. Lucky me
But coming for the trails is something else... I'll be sure to give you a call.

This is my 2nd ML8 and have had this one for 1 1/2 years. I have owned three ML7's one Matic and never had the Durance. Always wanted to ride one never owned one. Love the climbing and descending capabilities of the Mavericks. This bike rips Noble Canyon in the Lagunas

i'm off across the alps (mainly dolomites, leaving this friday), so the durance has been fettled and pimped - new are formula the one 2009, conti rubber queens in 2.2" with black chili, and of course the hammerschmidt ... weight as shown 13.2kg / 29lbs

Here's a few of mine getting used at Glentress & Innerleithen in Scotland this weekend just gone... What a weekend that was, most awesome trails I've ridden a long long while! Bike has had a couple of component changes since last photoed too.

She weighs 27.2 pounds (feedback sports hanging scale). The front tire is over 2 pounds but it rides with such confidence that it is a keeper. It looks like a small motorcycle tire and has been flawless tubeless on the Flow rim. Recommended.

At the end of the year I may try to shave weight by going to hydraulics, installing the M980 race pedal and doing a 5-6 speed rear. All that would only net about 2/3 of a pound but the bike could be stronger at the time....